Alice Baker
Mezzo Soprano

Born in Detroit in 1961, American mezzo soprano Alice Baker made her operatic debut with L.A. Opera in 1986, alternating both Emilia to Plàcido Domingo's OTELLO and Suzuki to Leona Mitchell's MADAMA BUTTERFLY in the company's innagural productions, subsequently appearing there in roles ranging from the title role in Rossini's LA CENERENTOLA, to the Mother Superior in Shostakovich's THE FIERY ANGEL, to Hermia in Britten's A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM.

Her European debut followed in February 1987 with CARMEN at Teatro dell' Opera di Roma opposite Josè Carreras, and in the same house a short time later, as Isabella in L'ITALIANA IN ALGERI opposite Ruggero Raimondi.

She has since appeared in the major opera houses of North America, Canada, and Europe, including those of Chicago (Angelina in LA CENERENTOLA, Dorabella in COSI FAN TUTTE, and Peep-Bo THE MIKADO), St. Louis (Ruggiero in ALCINA), Washington DC (Preziosilla in LA FORZA DEL DESTINO), Seattle (Maddalena in RIGOLETTO), Vancouver (Suzuki in MADAMA BUTERFLY), Detroit (Nancy in MARTHA), Edmonton (Suzuki in MADAMA BUTTERFLY and Cornelia in GIULIO CESARE), Frankfurt (Rosina in IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA) , Venice (LA DAMOISELLE ELUE, and Leonora in LA FAVORITA), Rome (the title role in GIULIO CESARE, Siebel in FAUST, Suzuki in MADAMA BUTTERFLY, and Pergolesi's STABAT MATER), Wexford and London (Carlotta in ELISA E CLAUDIO), Barcelona (Angelina in LA CENERENTOLA), RAI 3 radio and television broadcast performances of FALSTAFF and NABUCCO, and in Turin (The Old Lady in CANDIDE, and Elisabeth I in MARIA STUARDA).

In concert, Alice Baker has performed with the leading Symphony Orchestras and conductors, among them the Los Angeles Philharmonic, The American Symphony Orchestra, Carnegie Hall, the Pittsburgh Symphony, the St. Louis Symphony, the Stavanger Symphony (Norway), Gran Teatro La Fenice (Venice), the Filarmonia of Verona, the Ensemble Orchestral de Paris; and with the Festivals of Bear Valley (USA), Grant Park (Chicago), the Hollywood Bowl, Lubiana and Maribor (Slovenia), Santa Margherita Ligure, Rieti and Teramo (Italy), in such works as Debussy's LA DAMOISELLE ELUE, Handel's MESSIAH, Mahler's THIRD SYMPHONY and DES KNABEN WUNDERHORN, Verdi's MANZONI REQUIEM, Duruflè's REQUIEM, Berlioz' ROMEO ET JULIETTE, Beethoven's NINTH SYMPHONY and MISSA SOLEMNIS, Rossini's STABAT MATER, and Vaughn Williams' SERENADE TO MUSIC and HODIE, with conductors such as Erich Leinsdorf, Peter Maag, Leonard Slatkin, John Nelson, Nicolas McGegan, Carlo Frajese Christopher Hogwood, John Mauceri, Lawrence Foster, Gianluigi Gelmetti, Sir Alexander Gibson, Sir George Guest, Roger Wagner, Jesus Lopez-Cobos, Sir Neville Marriner, and Giuseppe Patanè, and directors such as Gordon Davidson, Peter Ebert, Alberto Fassini, Peter Sellars, David Fielding, Gotz Friedrich, Sonia Frisell, Irving Guttman, Peter Mussbach, Jonathan Miller, and Andrei Serban.

She appears in the PBS documentary film MASTERCLASS with six other young American singers with the late German soprano Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, and recently recorded Pergolesi's STABAT MATER on a newly released CD.

Apart from her singing schedule, the American mezzo has, since 1996, dedicated time every year to helping young singers by volunteering with Masterclasses and voice lessons for the New Operafestival di Roma, and with guest performances there and in other festival sites in Italy.

Elected for inclusion in Great Britian's new international edition of the Who's who in Classical Music, the mezzo will begin the year 2001 in the studio to record two cantatas for contralto by Vivaldi with Concentus Musicus Italiae, and the first of a double CD recording of Bizet's songs with pianist Raj Bhimani. Promotional concerts will follow, as well as time dedicated to the development of CMI Arts' Young Artist/Mentor Program, of which Miss Baker is an Artist Mentor. Later in the year the mezzo will sing a series of Verdi "REQUIEMS" under the baton of Carlo Frajese beginning with a tour with the Orchestra of Minsk (Russia), performances of Amneris in Aida , then more Verdi "REQUIEMS" in November/December for the Festival Valentiniano (Rieti and Cagli, Italy). She will repeat these performances in the year 2002, when the Festival travels to Orvieto, and in Sept. 2002 will sing a benefit concert for the Twin Towers Orfans Fund at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, of Pergolesi's STABAT MATER. In December 2002, Ms. Baker returns to Orvieto to sing selections from Handel's MESSIAH in a Christmas concert at the Duomo.


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